AUGUSTA - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturning the abortion rights affirmed in the case of Roe v. Wade. A draft opinion had been leaked to the press last month.
Speaker Fecteau D- Biddeford, House Majority Leader Michelle Dunphy D-Old Town, and Assistant Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, released the following statements in response the ruling:
"I stand with the majority of Americans who believe that the government should not interfere with individual health care decisions and our reproductive freedom. Over my eight years in office, the Maine Legislature has expanded access to abortion care in our state. We will keep fighting for these rights. That isn't going to stop because an extremist Supreme Court is working to take our country back to dark days," said Speaker Fecteau. "Furthermore, Justice Clarence Thomas issued a concurring opinion stating that the court should reconsider all substantive due process precedents, which includes decisions that legalized same-sex marriage and access to contraception. For LGBTQ + people like me, this concurring opinion threatens our safety, dignity and freedom.
"This is a heartbreaking day for America. But I want to be very clear, this Supreme Court decision will not lead to immediate changes to abortion laws in Maine. In 1993, lawmakers codified the right to an abortion. Maine lawmakers have strengthened access to abortion since then. Health care, including abortion care, is available in our state. House Democrats will keep fighting for this. We remain committed to defending and expanding abortion access for every person who wants it," said Rep. Michelle Dunphy.
"Barriers to abortion are not just harmful to a few, but to all of us, as they violate our human rights. In a just society, everyone deserves to be able to make their own decisions about their bodies and for those decisions to be private. This freedom to choose is a deeply held value in Maine and we will continue to ensure access to reproductive health care and safe, legal access to abortion," said Rep. Talbot Ross. "This year, the Maine Legislature successfully defeated multiple bills that would have reversed these rights. We overcame these challenges because Mainers value privacy, health care access, and freedom from government control. Today, our fight continues. Relentless, together, we will defend our human right to health care here in Maine."
Contact:
Jenna Howard [Fecteau, Dunphy, Talbot Ross] c. 214-3185